Notes on mail, backup and IMAP
What we learn building istorel, and what we tell customers who ask how mailbox backup actually works.
Backing up an IMAP mailbox yourself: imapsync, Thunderbird, PST export: what people often miss
For one or two mailboxes, free or cheap tools will do. You just need to know what each one really copies, and what it leaves out.
DriveSync is not backup: why your drive does not protect your files
A drive keeps your files in step across every device, and that includes your mistakes. A deleted folder, or a file encrypted by ransomware, reaches every computer within minutes.
BackupWhy back up your email? 7 situations where your mailbox is not enough
Your email provider keeps your mailbox online. It does not keep a copy of what you deleted. Here are seven cases where that difference costs you.
RiskAn employee is leaving: protect their mailbox before it gets emptied
An employee who leaves on bad terms may still have access to their mailbox for a few days. If they delete emails, your provider’s redundancy and trash will not bring them back months later.
ComparisonEmail backup or archiving: what is the difference?
Both keep old email, so people mix them up. The trouble starts on the day the tool you paid for cannot do what you need.
IMAPIMAP backup: how it works and what it copies
Outlook, Thunderbird and the mail app on your phone all talk to the server over IMAP. A backup tool can read your mailbox the same way, with nothing to install and no special arrangement with your provider.
BackupYour email provider does not back up deleted emails
Redundant storage keeps your mailbox online, but it does nothing for the email you deleted last Tuesday. To get that back, you need a backup.